Steelers' success on display

Art Rooney Jr. never donned a black-and-gold Pittsburgh Steelers uniform, but fans treated him like royalty Wednesday at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

And Rooney, the Steelers’ vice president, was more than happy to oblige.

Unassuming and mild-mannered, Rooney graciously signed autographs for a handful of fans who noticed him touring the new Pittsburgh Steelers 75th Anniversary Exhibit, which includes the team’s five gleaming Super Bowl trophies, apparently displayed together for the first time outside team headquarters.

Rooney signed his name on the back of his business card, a trademark of his hospitality and something he has done for waitresses and other passionate Pittsburgh fans countless times.

Other Pittsburgh boosters got their photos taken with Rooney, the son of the late Art Rooney Sr., founder of the Steelers franchise. Afterward, Rooney politely told one of them, “Thanks for being a fan.”

Steelers Heaven

The exhibit, chock-full of Steelers memorabilia, both quirky and classic, is nirvana for Pittsburgh fans, including Rooney. The exhibit opened in late June and will be at the hall through Aug. 31.

“I’m thrilled,” Rooney said, basking in the sea of black and gold. “I can’t tell you how thrilled I am.”

“This is the best,” he added while Steelers highlights played on a large screen. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Football artifacts are in abundance:

- A box of the late Rooney’s signature cigars.

- The pair of shoes Hall of Fame Steelers running back Franco Harris wore when he made the iconic Immaculate Reception in 1972.

- The panel from the elevator that Art Rooney Sr. was in at Three Rivers Stadium when Harris made the catch.

- And the NFL draft card of current Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

The crown jewel of the special exhibit, the Super Bowl trophies, hold a special place in Rooney’s heart.

“I had a direct hand in them,” said Rooney, the former player personnel chief renowned for his knack for mining gold out of the NFL draft, including Steelers legends like Jack Lambert and John Stallworth. “I feel very akin to them. (The trophies) became like part of your environment.”

Pittsburgh Fans

Mark Yessin, 58, of Cape Cod, Mass., may not have Pittsburgh roots, but he grew up loving the Steelers.

“The Bradshaw days, the Franco Harris days ... how could you not love them?”

“I never rooted for a team harder than when they played Dallas,” Yessin said. The Steelers “were the most exciting team, from the logo on down.”

Pittsburgh native Doreen Cooper, 58, now lives in Alaska. But Cooper’s loyalty to the Steelers hasn’t waned. She recalled Steelers games she attended as a child at Pitt Stadium predating the championship seasons at Three Rivers Stadium.

Cooper got teary-eyed watching Steelers highlights at the exhibit. During the team’s glory days in the ’70s, “It was a heart attack (watching) every game,” she recalled.

Advice for Browns Fans

Rooney is a nice guy, just not so nice that he feels sorry for desperate Browns fans, who are still waiting for the franchise’s first Super Bowl title.

“Noooo,” said Rooney, his face contorting into a sour expression.

“Cleveland beat us every way they could beat us,” he said, referring to the Paul Brown-era teams. “And they were tremendous.”